Closure for receptacles



July 24,1934. c NEWMAN r AL 1,967,722

CLOSURE FOR RECE'PTACLES Filed April 14, 1931 [TH/672F151C/zarlea/Vewman Patented July 24, 1934 UITED STATES 1,967,722 CLOSUREFOR RECEPTACLES Charles Newman, New York, N. Y., and Walter 0. Roach,South Bend, Ind, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Roach AppletonManufacturing Company, South Bend, Ind'., a corporation I .of DelawareApplication April 14, 1931, Serial No. 529,928 3 Claims. (01. 247-26)The present invention relates to improvements in closures forreceptacles.

More particularly, the present invention relates ,to improvements inclosures for outlet boxes, outlet receptacles and other devices used inthe protection of electric wiring or other electrical equipment. It haslong been the practice to provide outlet boxes, outlet receptacles andthe like with knock-outs, usually circular in outline, which, whenremoved from the outlet boxes, receptacles or the like, provide openingsfor the reception of armored cable. More recently, the knock-outsreferred to have been replaced by closure members which may be priedoutwardly of the box or receptacle.

The present invention relates in its more specific aspects to suchclosures, though, as the description proceeds, it will be apparent thatthe invention has a broader application.

In this specification, switch boxes, receptacles and other devicescommonly provided with knock-outs or pry-outs will be referred tobroadly as receptacles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle having areadily removable closure which, when in closing position, is effectiveto prevent the passage of sparks or flame from the interior of thereceptacle tothe exterior thereof.

A further object is to provide an improved closure which, while tightlyclosing the opening with which it cooperates, is nevertheless readilyremovable by means of the tools with which artisans are commonlyequipped.

A further object is to provide a closure which may be readily turned outof its operative relationship with the wall in which it is located, sothat it may be readily manipulated by an artisan, either by his fingersor by means of a pair of pliers or the like, to remove said closure.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of areceptacle commonly known as a switch box, said receptacle beingprovided with closures embodying the principles of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is an end View of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of part of the wall of a receptacle such asillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 being taken along the planeindicated by the arrows 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is av sectional view taken along the planes indicated by thearrows 4-4 of Figure 2.

Numeral 10 indicates a receptacle which, in the illustrated embodimentof the present invention, is rectangular in shape. One or more of thewalls of said receptacle 10 may be provided with removable closures,which removable closures are indicated by the numerals 11, 11. To accordwith usual practice, said closures 11, 11 may be circular in outline andare, according to usual practice, integral with the wall with which theycooperate. Each of said closures 11 is defined by the perimeter of acircle or other geometrical figure, said circle or other geometricalfigure defining a line of rupture or weakened material. Said line ofrupture is indicated by the numeral 12 and, as clearly appears from thedrawing, is interrupted at two substantially diametrically opposedregions by intact portions 13, 13, which intact portions are adapted tooperate as hinges to permit the turning of the closure about thediameter which includes the points marking said intact portions. Theline indicated by the numeral 14 indicates the diameter referred to,which diameter marks the axis about which the closure 11 is adapted tobe turned. Each closure 11 may be provided with a small indentation orabutment upon the outer face thereof to provide a grip for theapplication of a screw driver or other tool. The indentations orabutments referred to are indicated by the numerals 15, 15, and arepreferably located adjacent to the line of rupture 12 at regionsdisplaced approximately from the diameter 14.

As indicated above, the present invention contemplates a structure inwhich the closure 11 is turned about the diameter 14. Inasmuch as thewall of the receptacle 10 will have appreciable thickness, it may bepreferred to swedge the closure 11 slightly so that it is curvedrelative to the axis 14. This structure is clearly indicated in Figures3 and 4:. By reason of the curvature referred to, the perimeter of theclosure 11 is displaced a slight amount from the wall of the openingwith which said closure cooperates, whereby ease of swing of the closure11 is had.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, switch boxes of the typeshown in the drawing are commonly provided with clamping devices on theinterior thereof for clamping the armored cable. In order that a minimumof interference may be had between the swinging closure 11 and theclamp, the axis which includes the points constituting the hinges 13,13,

clear without detailed explanation. It may be stated, however, that theclosures 11 when in their operative positions provide complete orpractically complete closures for their corresponding openings. When itis desired to remove one of the closures 11 to permit the mounting ofarmored cable, the closure 11 will be struck on one side of the diameter14 by means of a tool, such as a screw driver, the depression 15providinga grip whereby an effective blow may be applied. Such a blowwill swing the closure 11 into angular relationship with thecorresponding wall of the receptacle 10, whereby said closure may bereadily gripped by the fingers of the artisan or by a pair of pliers orother tool in the hand of the artisan, whereby the closure may be"readily broken away from the remainder of the wall. Such an angularposition of the closure 11 is indicated in the right-hand side of Figure1.

Though a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described indetail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and itis intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wall having a closure integral therewith, said closure beingdefined by a geometrical figure interrupted by intact portionsdiametrically opposed to each other, said closure being curved about anaxis which includes said in tact portions toprovide a slight amount ofclearance between said closure and the remainder of said wall.

2. A wall having a closure integral therewith, said closure beingdefined by a geometrical figure interrupted by intact portionsdiametrically opposed to each other, said closure being curved about anaxis which includes said intact portions to provide a slight amount ofclearance between said closure and the remainder of said Wall, saidclosure being provided with a toolgripping portion displaced from saidaxis.

3. A Wall having a closure integral therewith, said closure beingdefined by a. geometrical figure interrupted by intact portionsdiametrically opposed to each other, said'closure being curved about anaxis which includes said intact portions to provide a slight amount ofclearance between said closure and the remainder of said wall, saidclosure being provided with tool-gripping portions displaced from saidaxis.

CHARLES NEWMAN. WALTER O. ROACH.

Ill)

